Use online tools that offer free salary information. You can use these to find the average salary in your role and area and then compare it to yours.
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To stay motivated in your job, it's important to know that you're being paid fairly.
Glassdoor provided a series of steps you can take if you suspect you're not being paid in line with your responsibilities and performance.
It used to be extremely difficult to find salary information, as it was almost exclusively for recruiters.
Luckily, that's changed, and now you can check out many sites and services that offer you this information for free.
Most of these sites work the same way. You simply have to enter a job title and a location.
Glassdoor has its own such tool, allowing you to view millions of salaries across various industries.
You can use these tools to find the average salary in your role and area and then compare it to yours.
If you haven't found the information you need using online tools, you can always ask your coworkers directly.
If you're concerned about seeming rude by asking someone directly how much they earn, try to only ask people that you know well and that you feel will be comfortable answering such a question.
Another option is to ask a former employee who may feel more comfortable revealing information about a company they no longer work at.
Glassdoor recommends having these discussions in private places where there's less pressure on the person you're asking.
Career consultant Barry Maher shared two tactics with Glassdoor to make people feel more comfortable in these situations.
First, Maher said, share your salary before they share theirs. Second, ask for an approximate range rather than an exact figure.
If you're still unsure if you're being underpaid, Glassdoor recommends you can ask yourself a series of questions.
Is your salary lower than what your company offers in jobs similar to yours?
If your company is transparent and discloses salaries in its job postings, take a look.
Have you been given more responsibilities but your salary has stayed the same?
The more responsibilities, the higher the compensation.
Has it been a long time since you've had a performance review?
Performance reviews are the best time to renegotiate your salary if you've been doing well in your role and it's been noticed.
Are many of your colleagues leaving for rival companies?
It's possible that many of these colleagues are leaving because of better salary offers.
Have you ever talked to your boss about a raise?
Sometimes you won't get paid more if you don't start the conversation.
Have you been with the same company for years?
Companies often reserve the best salaries to attract workers from competitors.
If you do find that you're being underpaid, Glassdoor also has tips on how to ask for raise.
Forget email or impromptu small talk. Prepare everything you have to say and, when you think you're ready, ask for a meeting with your manager.
You need to provide strong evidence that you deserve a raise.
If you've used online tools to compare salaries, bring that information with you. You can also include numbers from any colleagues or former colleagues that have shared their salaries with you.
Give a succinct review of your positive impact on the company's business.
You need to explain how your accomplishments have directly impacted the company. For example: "By leading our efforts to win this client, we made an additional $250,000 of profit in 2021."
No matter how good your arguments are, and no matter how impressive your achievements are, there's always the chance that your request will be rejected.
That's why it's important to have a backup plan. For example, if your boss says that there's no budget for raises, ask if other benefits, like more days working from home, are available. You can also ask them to revisit the issue in a few months.
